1. Be prepared. Before your baby is born, read up and learn all you can about breastfeeding. If possible, take a class and absorb as much information as you can. How does breastfeeding work? What are possible challenges you might face? What can you do to get past those challenges? What is the best way to boost and maintain your supply? How often will your baby want to feed? How do you know if baby is getting enough to eat? All of these are questions you may face when breastfeeding and for many of them, knowing that they are coming may help you be prepared for how to deal with them.
2. Understand the concept of supply and demand. This is the most important thing you can learn prior to breastfeeding. When your baby demands, your body will produce. If your baby does not demand, your body will not produce.
3. Trust. Trust your body, trust your baby and trust the diapers. If you are exclusively breastfeeding and you are offering breast when your baby gets fussy, your body is producing enough. If your baby is happy and growing, your body is producing enough. If your baby has 8-10 wet diapers a day, your body is producing enough. Don't second guess your body, trust it.
4. Understand that you may be feeding constantly the first month or so and you may feel like a pacifier. Many moms think that they are not producing enough milk or baby is not getting full when they are wanting to constantly nurse. This is not the case. Unlike bottle feeding, there is an emotional aspect to breastfeeding. Sometimes babies just want to be near mommy or they just want to suck. Sometimes they are so content and comfy nuzzled up to mommy that they fall asleep and forget to eat. This is completely NORMAL and does not mean that baby is not getting enough! Just keep offering the breast and be open to the fact that breastfeeding will be a 24/7 job at first.
5. Find a lactation consultant and use her! Most of the time, they know more than your doctor or pediatrician when it comes to breastfeeding because this is their specialty. I recommend meeting with one while still in the hospital (if possible) to really establish a good latch and ask any questions that you may have. Make sure you have them teach you about sucks and swallows so you can interpret how much your baby is actually eating vs. just sucking for comfort. You should also find out about different nursing positions and practice them with the LC. Have your significant other take pictures of you nursing in the different positions so you can look back on how the baby was supported or the angles they were positioned in later on when you are at home and struggling to remember.
6. Skin to skin time is a must! Get as much skin to skin time as possible, especially in the first few days when you are waiting for your milk to come in. The more exposure baby has to your breast, the more comfortable they will get with it.
7. Breastfeeding comes before visitors. It can be stressful trying to accommodate all the people who want to meet your new little bundle of joy. You may find that baby actually wants to nurse more when there are visitors. They may be overstimulated by the increase in people and activity around them and find your breast the most calming place to be. Request that visitors contact you before visiting and let them know that you may have to step away to nurse (or nurse in front of them if you are comfortable with that) if baby needs it. Don't feel bad taking your baby away from them, your first priority should be getting baby fed! In the hospital, have the nurse put a sign on your door when you are nursing so visitors know to wait until you are done (unless you are comfortable with them being in the room).
4. Understand that you may be feeding constantly the first month or so and you may feel like a pacifier. Many moms think that they are not producing enough milk or baby is not getting full when they are wanting to constantly nurse. This is not the case. Unlike bottle feeding, there is an emotional aspect to breastfeeding. Sometimes babies just want to be near mommy or they just want to suck. Sometimes they are so content and comfy nuzzled up to mommy that they fall asleep and forget to eat. This is completely NORMAL and does not mean that baby is not getting enough! Just keep offering the breast and be open to the fact that breastfeeding will be a 24/7 job at first.
5. Find a lactation consultant and use her! Most of the time, they know more than your doctor or pediatrician when it comes to breastfeeding because this is their specialty. I recommend meeting with one while still in the hospital (if possible) to really establish a good latch and ask any questions that you may have. Make sure you have them teach you about sucks and swallows so you can interpret how much your baby is actually eating vs. just sucking for comfort. You should also find out about different nursing positions and practice them with the LC. Have your significant other take pictures of you nursing in the different positions so you can look back on how the baby was supported or the angles they were positioned in later on when you are at home and struggling to remember.
6. Skin to skin time is a must! Get as much skin to skin time as possible, especially in the first few days when you are waiting for your milk to come in. The more exposure baby has to your breast, the more comfortable they will get with it.
7. Breastfeeding comes before visitors. It can be stressful trying to accommodate all the people who want to meet your new little bundle of joy. You may find that baby actually wants to nurse more when there are visitors. They may be overstimulated by the increase in people and activity around them and find your breast the most calming place to be. Request that visitors contact you before visiting and let them know that you may have to step away to nurse (or nurse in front of them if you are comfortable with that) if baby needs it. Don't feel bad taking your baby away from them, your first priority should be getting baby fed! In the hospital, have the nurse put a sign on your door when you are nursing so visitors know to wait until you are done (unless you are comfortable with them being in the room).
8. Have a support system. Make sure your significant other is on board and knows their role and what they can do to help. Sure, they won't be doing much feeding those first few weeks but they can help you by getting up to change diapers, letting you nap when baby is content, making you food to eat, keeping the house clean, taking care of other children and anything else that needs to be done. Find a support group (face to face or online). Online groups are especially helpful for those times you need support in the middle of the night. Most likely someone else will be up and able to provide you with some kind words and encouragement.
9. When baby eats, milk comes out of you! One mistake that many moms make is letting someone else feed the baby during the night but not pumping while baby eats. Remember supply and demand? If baby is eating and milk isn't coming out of your body, then you are messing with your supply and at risk of losing it. Be prepared to do the majority of feedings especially the first few weeks while building your supply. Learn to nurse in the side lying position (your LC can help you with that) so you can catch some zzzz's while baby is eating. If daddy wants to get up with baby and bottle feed, than you need to get up and pump as well!
10. Drink lots and eat well. This is not the time for dieting! Make sure that you are getting enough healthy calories to support you and baby and you are getting lots of fluids. There are many foods that are great for lactation such as oatmeal. Research these prior to baby being born and have them on hand. Continuing your prenatal vitamin daily (with DHA) is also important. Remember, while breastfeeding, you want 300-500 (healthy) calories per day in addition to your daily recommended intake.
10. Drink lots and eat well. This is not the time for dieting! Make sure that you are getting enough healthy calories to support you and baby and you are getting lots of fluids. There are many foods that are great for lactation such as oatmeal. Research these prior to baby being born and have them on hand. Continuing your prenatal vitamin daily (with DHA) is also important. Remember, while breastfeeding, you want 300-500 (healthy) calories per day in addition to your daily recommended intake.
11. Consider baby wearing for hands free nursing. This is a skill that takes some practice and you may want to wait until baby gets the latch down and you are comfortable with it as well. But once the latch is mastered, wearing baby is a great way to get things done while breastfeeding (especially if you have other children running around!). My favorite carriers for breastfeeding a newborn are Ring Slings, the Moby Wrap and the Baby K'tan.
12. Give it time and stick with it. Remember, breastfeeding usually comes naturally to babies but many do need time to figure it out, and so do you! Understand that it will get easier. At first, baby requires more attention and support and nursing sessions seem to last forever. Eventually, you and baby will get the hang of it and it will become second nature.
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